Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

W. G. CARR. WIRE STRBTGHER.

- Patented May 5, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEETCE.

WILLIAM CHARLES CARE, OF BALDIYIN, ILLINOIS.

WlRE-STRETCHER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 559,513, dated May 5,1896.

Application filed June 15,1895. Serial No. 552,952. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that .1, WILLIAM CHARLES CARR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Baldwin, in the county of Randolph and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWire-Stretchers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers, the same beingespecially applicable to use in the building of wire fences where it isa desideratum to have the wire stretched tightly between the posts ofthe fence before the securing nail or staple is inserted into the post.

The invention consists of a device which is adapted to be readilyattached to and detached from fence-posts, consisting of an up rightbeam, to which is pivoted an operatinglever provided with asecuring-clamp for the wire, and a notched bar also pivoted to saidupright and passing through a slot in said 1e- Ver, whereby said leveris held rigidly at any point to which it may be drawn. In the upper partof said upright I arrange a tension device which prevents the backwardmovement of the wire after it has been drawn downwardly by theoperating-lever. This consists of a roller having a milled periphery anda carn-shaped piece having a milled lower end which acts in engagementwith said roller, so that the wire is free to be drawn forwardly, but isprevented from slipping backwardly.

The invention also consists in other details of construction andcombinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a View of a wire fence in course ofconstruction with my device shown applied to one of the posts thereof.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of mydevice, shown detached from the fence.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the various views.

In Fig. 1 an ordinary wire fence is shown, in which 1 represents theposts thereof, and 2 the line-wires attached to the posts by staples orother suitable means. 3 represents my stretcher,which is made up of anupright beam 4, having a loop of metal 5 secured thereto, by means ofwhich said upright may be conveniently attached to and detached from thefence-posts 1. The drawings show the loop 5 made of a single strip ofmetal. It is obvious, however, that a chain or other attaching means maybe substituted therefor. Fulcruined in a slot 6 near the upper end ofthe upright 4 is a lever 7, having a handle 8 upon its lower end. It isalso provided with a clamping device 9, by means of which theline-wires? of the fence are securely held. This clamping deviceconsists of a bolt 10, passing through a slot 11 in the lever 7, athumb-screw 12, and suitable washers between said thumb-screw and saidlever. Pivoted at a point near the lower end of the up-.

right 4 is a notched bar 13, which passes through the slot 11 in thelever 7, the shoulders of said notches engaging the bolt 10 of saidclamping device, so that said lever may be securely held at any point towhich it may be turned. In the upper end of the upright 1 is looselymounted upon a suitable pintle a roller 14:, having milled edges, asclearly shown. Acting in engagement with this roller is a camshapedpiece 15,mounted above said roller and having a milled lower edge. Thecamv 15 and the roller ltform a tension device which prevents thebackward movement of the linewires 2 when the lever 7 is raised for asecond grip.

The operation of my device is as follows: The stretcher being attachedto one of the posts 1 in the manner described one of the line-wires 2 isdrawn between the cam. 15 and the roller 14 and secured to the lever 7by means of the clamping device 9. When this is done, the lever 7 is inits upward position. Then by forcing the handle 8 downward the wire 2 isdrawn through the tension device and the proper degree of tensionsecured, afterwhich said wire is permanently attached to the post 1. Ifit is necessary in order to obtain the proper tension to stretch thewire several times by means of the lever '7, the operation justdescribed may be continued by simply raising the lever 7 to its originalposition. Back pressure during this time is pre vented by means of thetension device at the upper end of the upright 4C. The notched bar 12holds the lever 7 securely in any position while the securing-staplesare applied to the wire and post.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aWire-stretcher, the combination of an upright adapted to be detachablysecured to a fence-post by means of aloop or its equivalent, a leverfulcrumed in said upright and slotted at a point near its center, aclamping device on said lever composed of a bolt, washers and thumb-nut,and a notched bar pivoted to said upright and passing through the slotin said lever and engaging said bolt, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of an upright adapted to beattached to and detached from a fence-post, a lever fulcrumed in saidupright and slotted near its center, a clamping device on said levercomposed of a bolt, Washers and thumb-nut, a notched bar pivoted to saidupright and passing through the slot in said lever and engaging saidbolt, a tension device composed of a milled roller and cam mounted inthe upper end of said upright, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM CHARLES CARR.

WVitnesses:

JOHN T. BEAN, J. W. McBRIDE.

